Rise of the Runelords

Something's Rotten in the State of Varisia.

So heroic, it hurts!

Standing over the corpse of Malfeshnekor, the party decides what to do next.

The plan how to return to Sandpoint with the most spoils of their efforts. They lift and carry the golden helmet to the surface to recover Shadowmist. With helmet and horse in tow, they leave the island and make their way through the thicket. They spend a freaking hour hacking a path through the ticket for the horse.

Reunited with the rest of their horses, the party travel toward town. It’s slow going through the forest with the sled and soon it is twilight. They manage to find a clearing and make camp.

A wilowisp attacks during the night and the party takes forever to kill it. During the combat, Nualia escaped into the night.

The party returned to Sandpoint and reported to the Mayor and Sheriff. We sold our booty and learned about the Runelords.

After spending the night recouping, the party visited the Sheriff Hemlock and learned about a grisly double murder. The sheriff was notably on edge, as the locals all remembered the late unpleasantness, during which the chopper murdered a number of people. The sheriff believed that this murder is at the start of a rampage.

The new murderer struck at the Sawmill and there were two victims. Content Not Found: ibor-thron discovered the bodies and there was a crowd of gawkers being controlled by the authorities. What was worrying, was that this is the second set of murders in the last few days. Shalelu has already begun investigating the first murders, which was of three swindlers.

At the second scene, the murderer left a note addressed to Kormac:
"We have spoken of this before, my master. Now it begins. Join the pack and it will end.

-Your Lordship
"

Another note was found in a barn where a man had gone insane and slain three other men:
"Messrs. Mortwell, Hask, and Tabe-

A deal has come about that I need capital for. It involves property and gold, and though I am not at liberty to tell you the exact details, it will make us all rich. Come to Bradley’s Barn on Cougar Creek tonight. We can meet there to discuss our futures.

-Your Lordship
"

The party follow the Sheriff to the Sawmill, where they encountered nervous guards guarding the entrance. As they entered, Hemlock handed the party deputy badges to grant them temporary authority in the investigation.

Upon entering, the group saw two bodies. A woman split in half by a log splitter and a man mutilated and pinned to the wall.

The clues:
Woman:

Katrine Vinder, F

Mangled by the saw blades

Wearing town flats

Bloody ax stuck in the floor near log splitter (blood likely the murderer’s (it smells like the footsteps))

Sitting among pile of bloodstained firewood, having passed through the log splitter

Man:

Harker, M

Operator in the mill

Wearing boots

Dragged from the center to the wall

Affixed to the wall by hooks

Face carved away, lower jaw missing

Clawed across his body

Chest carved with seven pointed star

Environment (Floor 1):

Boot footprints

Woman’s Shoe footprints

Bare footprints

Smell of rotting meat

Goes toward the pier

Logsplitter was likely running all night

The pier

Someone could have swum to it.

Muddy tracks came from the river, onto the pier, then onto the second floor.

Bloody tracks going out and into the river.

Environment (Floor 2):

Footsteps wandered around, but no rummaging to search for anything.

The party then proceeded to meet with Ibor Thorn and interview him. They found out that Harker was meeting secretly with Katrine at night in the Sawmill and that he was cooking the books for a couple years. This could’ve been dangerous because the sawmill was owned by the Scarnettis, who were known to burn competing mills and use underhanded tactics. Ibor doesn’t think the Scarnettis found out Harker was cheating them.

The party went deep into the garrison to see the three victims of the first murders. The victims also had the seven pointed stars carved into their bodies. They were clearly mutilated by a being that had five-fingered claws. The claws were approximately the size of a man’s hand.

A name to forever inspire... DREAD

The heroes attacked Thistletop, slaying Ripnugget and his lieutenant Gogmert and his pet Tangletooth. Storming the lower floors, they dealt with Tsuto and Lyrie… permanently. Without pausing to rest, the party entered the final floor and found Nualia. They slew her demonspawn and incapacitated the corrupted Asimar with the intent of taking her to stand for her crimes. They search her room and find her diary, Nualia’s Tail.

Finally, the party encounters the trapped Malfeshnekor. With stunning tactics, they dispatched the outsider and found the legendary Shield Ring.

The Fracas at the Festival

he sun dawned over the small, seaside town of Sandpoint, its warm rays marking the first day of autumn. Despite the early hour, the sounds of rejoicing could be heard throughout the town. It was the opening of the Swallowtail Festival, honoring the goddess Desna and the start of the new season. This year, the festival also celebrated the beautiful reconstruction of the Cathedral of Desna.

I found myself in the town square in front of the new building where a stage and been built. Behind the stage sat a collection of local notables, quietly conversing to themselves. As the crowd began to murmur impatiently, an elegant woman with short, auburn hair walked onto stage. A hush fell over the crowd and Mayor Kendra Deverin began her speech. She spoke eloquently and light-heartedly, welcoming travelers to Sandpoint and everyone to the festival.

The Mayor ended her short speech by introducing the next speaker, Sheriff Belor Hemlock. After a round of applause, a large, armored man climbed on stage. The sheriff shook the mayor’s hand and cleared his throat before launching into an awkwardly terse speech about the importance of safety during the festival. The curt nod that marked the end of his speech was rewarded with muted applause. Unfazed, he turned to the remaining speakers seated behind and introduced Cyrdak Drokkus, a local playwright and proprietor of the Sandpoint Theater.

An older, brightly dressed man took the stage and winked at the crowd. With a practiced flourish, Drokkus introduced his new play, the Harpy’s Curse, to the eager audience. Apparently it would be opening soon at the Sandpoint Theater. The crowd cheered as he finished his speech. As Drokkus began descending the stage, a perceptive observer could notice that he seemed surprised that it was Father Zantus who then took the stage. Perhaps another speaker had not appeared?

Ignoring Drokkus’ puzzled look, Father Zantus, wearing the ceremonial robes of a priest of Desna, smiled as he stepped forward. He motioned for the crowd to calm down and gave a short speech thanking the town for their help in rebuilding the cathedral. He ended with a reminder that everyone should return to the town square at sundown for the ceremonial release of the swallowtail butterflies. The rest of his words, if any, were drowned out by the cheers of the crowd as they moved into the festival in all directions.